More pictures...

.. of plants.  This time I went to the botanical gardens in Melbourne with my camera.  Many of the plants were the same and so limited opportunity for more 'arty' shots unless they were along the same lines as before.  But I did see a few interesting things.
For example, ever noticed how many different types of tree bark you can get (at least in Australia)?

I likes this weeping type of pine too:

And these plants were used to make an 'under water' scene for children (imagination needed):

And as a little extra, I went to the beach yesterday evening with Liz, my housemate, to walk her dog, Nala.  Liz found some awesome green seaweed which was really rubbery.

'Arty' photos

In the absence of any crafting while I am away I thought I'd share with you some photos I took today at the Botanical Gardens in Geelong.  I went with two other PhD students in my group, one of whom had a fancy camera and was taking some serious shots of the flowers.  I'm not too good with photos normally but am quite pleased with the way that some of these have turned out.

If you want to look at other pictures from the gardens then they are here:
https://plus.google.com/photos/117241777583773967499/albums/5835436209218702881?authkey=CO_T1b2_qITCdg

I'm off...

...for a bit. Catching the plane at 10.10am from LHR tomorrow morning and so all packed and ready(?) to go.  I'm an art journalling novice and this is probably something which would be better made into a journal page than a card (who am I going to send it to), but I made a card to mark my journey and 5 months away in Australia which is coming up.  I most likely won't be crafting while I am away (20 kg is just too small to allow me to include craft stash as well as clothes and other essentials for 5 months), or at least not card making.  I might try my hand at digital scrapbooking and/or I have packed quite a lot of cross stitch to keep me busy in the evenings.  But of course I am going all that way to work on the final stages of my PhD and it would be a shame not to have a bit of a look round too, so spare time might be in short supply...

I am back in the Uk on 31st May and will probably hit the craft 'table' like made then to make up for lost time! (and as a distraction/to keep me sane in the months of 'thesis writing').  Keep in touch xxx
I will enter this card into this weeks Passion for Promarkers and Cute Card Thursday (something new) challenges.

Thanks

You can never have too many thankyou cards!  I was inspired by Deb's challenge for January on CMLI (noughts and crosses) to make this card.  I will also enter it into this weeks MAWTT (thankyou), Sweet Sketch Wednesday (sketch) and Willow Sketchie (anything goes) challenges.

Baby Boy

So many 'new' challenges out there this week.  I don't actually know anyone due to have a baby in the near future but thought I would make a card with this cute image that was given to me by Debs- thanks!
I will enter the card into this weeks Cute Card Thursday (something new), Passion for Promarkers (something new), Willow Sketchie (anything goes) and Sweet Sketch Wednesday (sketch) as well as this months Ready Teddy Go (something new) challenges.

Bright Birthday Wishes

I made this little birthday card yesterday using up a Pollycraft image that I printed off the other day.  I will enter the card into this weeks Willow Sketchie challenge (sketch and/or anything goes).

My First Art Journal Page

Clare from Craft Bubble recently made the first in a series of tutorials on art journalling, guiding a novice like me from card making to journalling.  The video is very much worth a look at.  Although it has taken me about 6 days I finally got a chance last night to have a go at my first art journal page.  The page is personal to my wishes for 2013 but contains many of the elements that Clare included.

I really, really enjoyed it and can't wait to watch the next tutorials when they are ready.  Journalling seemed liberating after some of the restraints of card making (I tend to be a bit of neat and tidy card maker- edges have to be straight and measured etc) and seemed a therapeutic way of expressing myself/ recording my thoughts and feelings.  I'm just upset that I won't get the chance to delve into this new form of crafting properly until June as I leave next Monday for Australia for 5 months.
I will be back though .... !

Rocking Christmas

Seeing as I bought this DigiStamp Boutique image a few weeks ago and have only used it so far on a tag I thought I'd get it out again and make a proper card.  I also wanted to try a rocker card again.
I will enter the card into this weeks I love Promarkers (anything but a square) challenge.

A Christmas card for 2013!

Well, better to make a start now while I am in the mood. (Also I wanted to use this DigiStamp Boutique image again).  I will enter the card into this weeks ABC Christmas (Z is for zoo animals- you can get owls in zoos in the UK) challenge.

Engagement!

My friend text me on Boxing Day to say that she had just got engaged!!!  That called for a card:

I will enter this into this weeks Willow Sketchie (sketch) and Cute Card Thursday (anything goes) challenges.